Fitted bed sheet

ABSTRACT

A fitted bed sheet includes elastic straps for securing the top and bottom edges of the sheet under a mattress.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally to bed linens, and more specificallyto fitted coverings for beds such as fitted bed sheets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bed linens typically refuse to stay in place while a bed is being used.Multiple attempts have been made over the years in an attempt to preventbed linens from being dislodged during slumber. One solution to theuniversal problem, applicable at least to bed linens remaining under thesleeper during use, such as mattress pads and bottom sheets has been toemploy “fitted” sheets. Fitted sheets typically employ an elasticmaterial affixed to the outer edge of the sheet. Such sheets aredimensioned so that the edges of the sheets hang over the sides of themattress and slightly below the bottom of the mattress. The elasticmaterial is sized so that it must be stretched over the corners of themattress in order to be able to cover the mattress with the fittedsheet. While using fitted sheets can reduce the time required to make abed, frequently the fitted bottom sheet cannot be easily made taut overthe surface of the bed. A flat, taut bottom sheet provides a desirableappearance aiding in adding a top sheet, a blanket, a bed spread, andlike subsequent bed coverings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention proves a fitted bed sheet comprising a generallyrectangular covering portion for extending over a mattress. The coveringportion has an upper edge, a right side edge, a lower edge, and a leftside edge. The fitted sheet includes an elastic material affixed to theedges of the covering portion, as well as a plurality of elastic strapsextending from the top edge to the bottom edge of the covering portion.In one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, theplurality of elastic straps consists of two elastic straps. In oneaspect of the invention, each of the plurality of elastic straps isreleasably affixed to at least one of the upper edge and the lower edgeof the covering portion. In another aspect of the invention, the elasticstraps are permanently affixed to the covering portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fitted sheet according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the fitted sheet of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describingselected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limitthe scope of the present invention.

Turning now to the figures in which like elements are identified by likereference numerals, there is shown in FIG. 1 a perspective view of acurrently preferred embodiment of a fitted sheet 10 according to thepresent invention over a mattress 100 (FIG. 3) on a bed 110. The fittedsheet 10 has a generally rectangular configuration and includes acovering 20 formed from a fabric material such as linen, cotton, acotton/synthetic blend, and the like. The covering 20 may have materialremoved the corners forming edges which are subsequently sewn togetherto better fit over a mattress. The covering 20 includes a top edge 22, aright-side edge 24, a bottom edge 26, and a left side edge 28 (FIG. 2).An elastic material or cord 30 is sewn into the edges 22, 24, 26, 28 sothat when the fitted sheet 10 is placed over a mattress 100 (FIG. 3) theelastic material 30 pulls the edges 22, 24, 26, 28 towards the center ofthe bottom of the mattress 100 (FIG. 3). A pair of elastic straps 50 areattached to and extend between the top edge 22 and the bottom edge 26 tohelp stretch the covering 20 over the mattress 100. The straps 50 may bepermanently affixed to the top edge 22 and the bottom edge 26, or thestraps 50 may be releasably affixed to either the top edge 22 or thebottom edge 26 such as by buttons inserted on button holes in thecovering 20, clips, or the like (not shown).

Various modifications can be made in the details of the variousembodiments of the method of the present invention, all within the scopeand spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims

1. A fitted bed sheet comprising: a generally rectangular coveringportion for extending over a mattress, the covering portion having anupper edge, a right side edge, a lower edge, and a left side edge; anelastic material affixed to the edges of the covering portion; and aplurality of elastic straps extending from the top edge to the bottomedge of the covering portion.
 2. A fitted bed sheet according to claim 1wherein the plurality of elastic straps consists of two elastic straps.3. A fitted bed sheet according to claim 1 wherein each of the pluralityof elastic straps is releasably affixed to at least one of the upperedge and the lower edge of the covering portion.
 4. A fitted bed sheetaccording to claim 1 wherein the plurality of elastic straps arepermanently affixed to the covering portion.